Improvement in electric telegraphing apparatus



Patented Dec. 27, 1859.

S MITH. ELECTRIC TELBGRAPHING APPARATUS.

I 0000 j a F l 0 l 'ma cams Patins ca., PHOTO-uws., wAsmwsmN, n c

or electro-chemical apparatus. From the opposite' extremity of saidcurren tl-'coils or electro-chemical apparatus the main vconductor d is continued to the next'station B, v{vhere the same combination ot' key, sectional conductors, generator of galvanism, electricity, or electromagnetism and magnetic or'electric instruments'or machines is employed iu'and forms apart ofthe main conducting-circuit,.as at A, and in like manner `t o and for a-s'many more stations as may be required in'th'e circuit.

Operation: From the above ldescription-it will be apparent that with thekeys throughout "the circuit at rest upon their respective anvils grthe metalliccircuit is complete Without any generator in action, andfthat whenever the key ot either station is pressed downv ward and the metallicpoints hand are brought into contact the aforesaid metallic circuit is broken at gat that-station-.only,and the circuit jis'retormed through the generator k of that station, and the sectional conductors connected with the opposite poles ot" that gener# ator, and-the current of electricity or galvan-v i'sm acts throughout the entire @circuit and brings into use each aforesaid instrument or .machine `combined therewith at "each'ot' the stations inthe circ-uit, but leaves every' other generator in the circ-uit outof action.

Sixth, Explanation ofthe law of my improvement intbeconstruction ofthe conducting-circuitzp'lbe nearer thecapacity of he wire forming the current-'coils that may be used lin the main circuit-approaches an equality in conducting capacity With the main conductor, the more perfectly 'will the current be transmitted lor maintained in equality of in tensity and power throughoutthe circuit, as the reducedcapacity of anysection of the circuit,-

however short, either by lessening the size of it, or otherwise, reduces fin a like degree the capacity of the entire circuit, and thereby establishes an ainity between it and interposed conductors ot' correspondingly inferior capacity, and creates through the latter a short circuit. So long as an'equality or uniformity of the capacity (if theiconductors for the current is maintained io inferior conductor ot' a shorter circuit will divert -the current so much as to interfere with the successful working of the t legraph-line constructed upon the improverent herein described', whatever may be. the extent of its circuit. Hence the ability I claim for such a line to work for 'telegraphic purposes Without. any artificial insulation, under the combination of apparatus above described,

through any distance ot' air, earth,ory Water, the true law being that the current will. not leave a superior conductor, whatever may be its length, foran inferior one of shorter length Lto an extent that will interrupt its, use for telegraphic purposes. The only practicable mode, moreover, of working an nnin'sulated metallic circuit is by the above combination of. an in' dependent circuit, or its equivalent, by which the only generator of .a current brought into action fat any one time on' the line is thatim'me'- diately u nder the control (for breakin g and closin g its current-circuit) of the transmitting operator. lAs it is impracticable for him to break and close the entirecurrent of Ia distant generator, for the reason that as soon as themetallic circuitof adistant generator is broken vthe portion of circuittintervening'between the operator so breaking the circuitiand thc distant generator ot' electricity is reduced to the 'capacity ot' any conductor which is touched by such .intervening portion ot' the circuit, anda shortcircuit is thereby im mediately established for such distant generator, 'and the recording or telegraphic instrument, combined with the generator at suchdistant point, cannot, in consequence ot' such short circuit, be worked by 'such distant operator, he cannot break and closethe shorter circuit which the distant gen- `crater under such circumstances-seeks out, although it be of an inferior co'nductin gcapacity.

Idisclaim the invention ot' each of the above- 'described apparatus,instruments, and machines 'in severalty, each having been long kn'ovvn.Y I also disclaim theparticular combination for working telegraphs described in the Letters Patent granted to E. Cornell, dated December 20, 1845,-whereiu' the groundl forms a pai-tot' the circuit, and insulators of the WireV are indispensable.

What I'claim as my invention', and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is- Y The above-described new and improvedmode and combination of apparatus, instruments, and machinesl used conjointlyin the manner' and for the purposes above described, and -dispensing therein with all artiticial insulatious of conducting-circuits for telegraphic purposes.

y FRANCIS O. J. SMITH. Witnesses:

FRANcIs B. SMITH, ELIPHALET CASE, CEAS. F. Woon, J. G. SPEED, Jr. 

